Tempting Top Tens - Dramas

Are there certain movies that tempt you to re-watch them? It's been such a relief discovering other bloggers who also confess to re-watching the six hour Pride and Prejudice series, too. (P & P will show up on some of my other Tempting Top Ten lists for the A-Z blogging challenge). In the meantime here is my list of movies in the D is for Drama category - movies that have Tempted me into multiple viewings.

10. Gone With the Wind. I love how feisty Scarlett is, that look of determination and devilry in her eye - played so well by Vivien Leigh.

9. Hunt for Red October - I love how the Russian submarine captain (Sean Connery aaaaahhhh) -  has to take a risk in trusting the American sub he encounters - whose captain also has to take a great risk.

8. Seabiscuit - so we are a family of horse fanatics, but really you don't even have to like horses to like this movie, because there are so many characters and layers and quirks that mesh together in surprising ways.

7. Anna Karenina (1997 version with Sean Bean and Sophie Marceau). A sumptuous movie that does a wonderful job contrasting the two love stories - one doomed, one filled with hope.

6. The Godfather - I'm not proud of this one, but it's a strangely addictive movie. I still watch it from time to time to try and figure out how it makes you care about not just one monster, but a whole family of them.

5. Gladiator - another one I re-watch to figure out what is so drawing about it (certainly not the violence, or the historical liberties). Compelling characters, yes - Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielson are riveting - and also exquisitely crafted scenes.

4. Witness - inner city cop (Harrison Ford) forced to hide out at an Amish family farm - an extreme clash of cultures. The raising-the-barn scene is my all-time favorite movie scene. It's not just about building a barn in a day (though that alone is amazing to watch); there are all sorts of subtle things going on in addition.

3. The Horse Whisperer - okay, yeah, I'm crazy about horses. But I still insist it's a great movie for many other reasons than a few great horse scenes. The four main characters (and I'm not counting the horse) have complications and character-arcs that intersect in so many interesting ways.

2. Casablanca - it's possible this movie gets better every time I watch it. The dialogue seems like it should be dated, but it remains timeless.

1. Shawshank Redemption - a powerful movie, I can't put together any words that do this movie proper justice. It simply must be seen.

What movie has tempted you to watch it more than once - or many times?

The letter D also inspires me to mention Dead Poets' Society (another great drama), Dune by Frank Herbert (the movie version, not so much) and Dracula by Bram Stoker - the original book is still by far the best.

Tempting Top Tens - Chocolate

Of the 26 letters, C was by far the easiest temptation to pick - chocolate - and one of the easiest top ten lists to put together for the A-Z blogging challenge.

10.  Chocolate chip cookies - even better with chocolate chunks.  Baking the dough is optional, of course.

9.  Ben & Jerry's Caramel Sutra - a decadent blend of chocolate and caramel ice-creams. I've heard rumors this flavor has been discontinued - oh horrors! Fortunately Ben & Jerry's has many other chocolate ice cream variations that suffice - like New York Super Fudge Chunk.

8. Death By Chocolate - basically any type of layered chocolate dessert. The idea is to layer as much chocolate as possible, in as many forms: chocolate cake layered with chocolate mousse, chocolate chips, fudge syrup, crumbled oreos - the options are endless.

7. Chocolate covered fruit. Strawberries, cherries, blueberries are common. But exotic fruit like kiwi or huckleberries dipped in fudge syrup can blow your mind, too.

6.    Fudge brownies - much easier to make than actual fudge, and the same chocolate-rush when you eat them.

5.    Hot fudge sundae - the exactly perfect ratio of hot fudge to cold ice-cream is a common debate, but as long as the ratio is within 30/70 to 50/50, I'm happy.

 4.    Lava chocolate cake. Whoever invented this deserves a medal. Chocolate cake with hot fudge spilling out of the middle of it.

3.    French silk pie- there are French silk pie imitations (yeah Village Inn, you are guilty!) and then there is REAL French silk pie. You can tell the real thing by the slightly shiny appearance of the chocolate and the truly silky texture. It is a dangerously sensuous eating experience.

2.    Chocolate torte. There is a long history of European tortes, rich multi-layered cakes, usually made with little flour (very dense), with buttercream or mousse between the layers. The ultimate chocolate torte, in my opinion,  is filled with ganache, a smooth mixture of chopped chocolate and heavy cream - developed by the French, of course.

1.    Chocolate truffles. They deserve first place by being literally the biggest chocolate punch in the smallest package. A single high quality chocolate truffle can provide more chocolate craving satisfaction than a whole shelf of cheap chocolate bars like Snickers, Milky Ways, or Hersheys (though don't get me wrong, I won't turn those down, either). But the other reason why the truffle deserves first place is the sheer creative variety of these little gems.

A store called The Chocolate Fetish in Asheville, NC, just about made me leave my beloved Wyoming Rocky Mountains behind for good - for their amazing truffles. I tried a truffle called "the Dragon's Sigh" - listen to this heavenly description: "sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds, enrobed in a creamy smooth dark chocolate overture, the full flavored dark chocolate center will tackle your tongue with a light taste of Wasabi." I also tried the "Midsummer Night's Dream" truffle - chocolate infused with fresh lavender, locally produced honey, and hint of lemon, and admired more creative truffle names such as "High Tea" "French Velvet" "Wine and Roses" and "Ancient Pleasures."

But just as I was about to move to North Carolina, I remembered the renowned Cowboy Chocolatier who lives in Wyoming and produces champagne truffles, Jack Daniels truffles, and many other unique truffles, as well. I guess I can stay here and be content.

My very best chocolate experience was the midnight chocolate buffet on the Norway cruise ship. While filling your plate from hundreds of chocolate choices, you could admire a dozen creative chocolate sculptures, including a chocolate ship complete with chocolate sails and rigging.

My worst chocolate experience was visiting a chocolate factory in Las Vegas. To be sure it was interesting to see how the chocolate was made, but to be offered only one free sample at the end? Sheer cruelty.

What's your best chocolate experience?

Tempting Top Ten: Best Breakfasts

I love fancy breakfasts and brunch food! This is my post for "B" in the A-Z blogging challenge and it's making my mouth water - I shamelessly hope it makes you hungry too! Click the pictures for recipes.

10. Cream cheese and fruit crepes - my mom loves to make these.

9. Stuffed French toast (I have IHOP to blame for this particular addiction)

8. Huevos Rancheros. A classic Mexican breakfast, huevos rancheros are fried eggs served on hot corn tortillas and smothered in salsa.

7. Cinnamon Rolls. These simply must be eaten fresh out of the oven, the gooier the better. I'm sharing this particular recipe because they got this description is just exactly right: "The frosting will settle in and become one with the cinnamon rolls."

6. Loaded Biscuits. This is my favorite "quick fix" comfort food. Loaded with cheese, garlic, butter, and optionally minced green onion and red bell pepper.

5. Monkey Bread. A close cousin to the cinnamon roll, these are so much fun to make (and eat) - especially with your kids.

4. Croissants. I got addicted to these when my parents took me to Europe at age 11 and I learned what Continental Breakfast was. Simple and pure delicious.

3. Bacon and Cheese Quiche. Traditional breakfast ingredients ensconced in a flaky pie crust? Pure heaven.

2. Eggs Benedict. A breakfast of elegance. Toasted English muffin topped with Canadian bacon (NOT regular bacon, except in a pinch), a poached egg (NOT a fried egg), and hollandaise sauce (not, I repeat NOT cheese sauce!)

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/eggs-benedict/

1. Waffles. My dad makes the most delicious homemade waffles (out of just plain ol' Bisquick!)- his trick is to add generous teaspoons of  both vanilla and maple flavorings, and a light dusting of powdered sugar over the syrup when served. But I think part of the magic is my parents' old, seasoned waffle iron. It's older than I am. I have never been able to buy one that produces waffles quite so deliciously.  I also love to put fresh strawberries or blueberries on my waffles and then pour syrup over it all.

What's your favorite breakfast? 

My Tempting Top Ten lists are going to be all over the place, from foods to fantastical places. (Yesterday was Actors/Actresses). One thing I wanted to add that's more closely related to my regular blog topics is favorite books, since I'm a book-o-holic. My favorite "B" books are The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley and Bridge to Terabithia  by Katherine Paterson (with links to my ecstatic reactions to these wonderful books). My favorite "A" books (sorry, I forgot to mention them yesterday), are Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (yeah, I know, quite the difference between those last two!)

Tempting Top Ten - Actors/Actresses

Welcome to my first post for the April A-Z challenge. My theme this month is Tempting Top Ten lists - and I'm starting off with my favorite actors or actresses that always tempt me to go to the movies. While this list is my personal top ten, I hope to hear your opinion on who you think should be on the list!

10. Anthony Hopkins - because he's played such a wide range of characters, from his most famously chilling Hannibal Lector, to my personal favorite - C.S. Lewis in the movie Shadowlands.

9. Sean Connery - because I had to have at least one of the James Bonds on my list, also Hunt for Red October will always be one of my favorites.

8. Sandra Bullock - loved her in so many movies: Speed, A Time To Kill, 28 Days, Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, The Blind Side. Leigh Anne Tuohy in the Blind Side - love, love, love.

7. Russell Crowe - I still watch Gladiator at least once a year. And Robin Hood, and Master and Commander... yeah, can you tell I love him best in period pieces? But all his performances are excellent. Can't wait to see him in the new production of Les Miserables as Inspector Javert.

6. Morgan Freeman - two words: Shawshank Redemption. And many others including Glory, Driving Miss Daisy, Invictus - well, yeah, pretty much everything he's been in. Even if he has just a bit part in a movie, he's memorable - and makes the movie memorable too.

5. Julia Roberts - that smile! Her version of Snow White's nemesis in Mirror, Mirror opens this weekend - I watched the trailer at least a dozen times on YouTube and she cracked me up every time. Also loved her in Erin Brockovich, My Best Friend's Wedding, Stepmom, The Pelican Brief, Steel Magnolias, and of course - Pretty Woman.

4. Patrick Stewart - Make it so, Captain Picard. Obviously his most famous role was in Star Trek the New Best Generation, but little known fact: he played a knight in Excalibur (which really dates me, but Excalibur remains, to this day, my favorite movie about King Arthur).

3.  Harrison Ford - because of Han Solo and Indiana Jones - and one of my all time favorite movies, Witness. And many other movies, too. He's just the perfect combination of tough, wry, and tender-hearted.

2. Meryl Streep. Just because. She's on everyone's list - and rightfully so. Anne Hathaway didn't have a chance playing against in her in the Devil Wears Prada: you were supposed to hate her - but I loved her. 

1.  Denzel Washington. What an actor. I have watched every single one of his movies, starting with Glory in the 80's and does anyone remember him in the 80's TV show, St. Elsewhere? But he just keeps getting better and better. The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide, Remember the Titans, John Q, Man on Fire, Inside Man, Unstoppable, and my all-time favorite, Deja Vu. Keep going, great man. 

Now you tell me - what actors or actresses always tempt you to go to the movies?